Toy-pistol.



N. B. POTTIER.

TOY PISIOL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 191B.

1 $69,854:. Patqnted June 18, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

amwntz may N. B. POTTIER.

TOY PISTOL.

APPLICATIONHLED APR-3.1918.

unl-

III

Patented June 18, 1918* 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 vwanlfoz NNB. POTTIER.

TOY PISTOL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19143.

1,269,854. Patented June 18, 191&

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

15 amvemtoz Molma B. Pa/fz'e r NAPOLEON BONAPARTE POTTIER, 0F CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA TOY PISTOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

applicetion filed Apri13, 1918. Serial No. 226,481.

To all whom-it may concern: ,Be it known that I, NAPOLEON B. Porrrnn, afnitizen 'of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and 5 State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Pistols, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings.

his invention relates to toy pistols, and has for its primary object to provide a toy pistol of that general character wherein a projectile is discharged from the barrel or muzzle, having improved trigger controlled means provided for effecting the release of the projectile. i

It is also another important object of the invention to provide a toy pistol having means for simultaneously discharging the projectile and explodin a detonating cap.

It'is still another ob ect of the invention to provide improved trigger actuated means for feeding the detonating caps from a magazine into position to be engaged by the hammer of the pistol.

And it is a further general object of my invention to provide a toy pistol as above ,characterized which is relatively simple in its construction, not liable to get out of order, and which can be manufactured and sold at comparatively small cost. 7 With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved combination, construction and arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully. described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with one-half of the body or casing of the pistol removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the rela tive positions of the parts when the trigger has been actuated, and the rojectile and the hammer are about to be rel ased;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a section taken on the line 41- 1 .of Fig. 1;

vice;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing another modification;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the latch element for the projectile; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the projectile.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, 5 designates the body or shell of the pistol which is constructed in two sections Which are of similar configuration and are securely connected together at intervals by means of the screws or rivets indicated at 6 and also by means of the pivot pins or bolts for the several operating parts of the mechanism to be hereinafter mentioned.

The two sections of the pistol body when assembled and secured together provide a barrel, shownat 7 and a tubular guideway 8 below and in parallel relation to said barrel. It is also provided with the usual hand grip 9 and the trigger guard 10.

' n the inner end of the barrel 7, a block or head'll is rigidly fixed therein by means of the transverse bolt or screw 12 connecting the two sections of the pistol body. One end of a rod 13 is secured in said head by means of the screw 12 and extends axially through the barrel 7 and projects slightly beyond the outer open end thereof. A light coil spring 14 surrounds this rod 13 and at its inner end is suitably fixed to the head 11.

15 designates a resilient wire latch element one end of which is securely held or fixed to the dividing webs between the barrel 7 and tube 8 by means of a suitable clip or other clamping element indicated at 16. The wire latch member extends forwardly from its fixed end in the tube 8 and at an intermediate point is downwardly bent orbowed, as shown at 17. The terminal of this wire latch is extended upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle as indicated at 18 and nor mally projects through a slot or opening 19 into the barrel 7.

The projectile 20, preferably of wood or other light material has a central bore or opening 21 therethrough to receive the rod 13. This projectile is further provided at its center with a peripheral groove 22 and the ends of the projectile are rounded or convexed so that they will readily ride over the angularly disposed terminal 18 of the latch element when either end of the rojectile is inserted into the barrel 7. It will be readily understood from the above description that the projectile is engaged upon the projecting end of the rod 13 and inserted into the barrel until the angular end 18 of the latch element engages the shoulder formed by the groove 22. Thus the projectile is securely held against the expansive action of the spring 14 which has beenv compressed in the insertion of the projectile into the barrel. The manner in which the latch element is actuated to release the projectile so that it is discharged from the pistol I pawl or dog 26 is pivotally connected at its lower end, said dog adjacent its free end being formed with a shoulder 27. The ham-.

' mer indicated at, 2 8 is also mounted for pivotal movement upon the transverse pin or rivet 29 fixed inthe side walls of the pistol casing or shell, said hammer being provided at its rear side with a lug 30 and at its upper sidewith the usual finger engaging projection 31. The hammer 28 is further provided at a point just below its pivot 29 and at the forward side thereof with a single lug or projection 32 withwhich the shoulder 27 on the end of the dog 26 is adapted to coact. I

One section of the pistol casin 'or shell is formed with a vertically dispose transverse web 33 which is disposed substantially in line with the pivot 23- of the trigger 2 1. Forwardly of this web and below the plane of the guide tube 8, a magazine chamber 3 1 is provided to receive a rolled onating caps indicated at O. The wall of the magazine chamber is provided with a slot or opening. 35 through which the cap strip is drawn, and a similar guide slot, or opening 36 is, formed in the lower end of the web 33 and substantially in horizontal alinement with the slot 35 in the wall of the magazine chamber. A feeding finger 37 is loosely mounted upon the pivot connecting the dog 26 to the arm25 of the trigger and the upper pointed end 38 of this finger is yieldingly urged toward the web 33 by means of a double acting spring 39. This spring consists of a single length of wire' having its medial portion coiled and engaged upon the pivot One end of the spring wire is extended upwardly from the coil and suitably secured at its extremity to the dog 26 adjacent the upper end of the latter, as shown at 39 while the other end portion of the-spring wire is similarly extended and secured to the upper end of the finger 37, as shown'at 39. Thus the dog 26' and finger 27 are urged in relatively oppo-- site directions, the 'former being yieldingly held in operative engagement with the hammer while the pointed end of the finger 37 is forced into gripping engagement with strip of detthe cap strip which extends upwardly over the rear side of the web 33.

. At its forward end and on the upper side thereof the hammer 38 is provided with a longitudinally disposed lip 40 which extends over the upper end of the web 33, and obviates the possibility of injury to the user from the flash of the detonating cap whe the latter is exploded.

A leaf spring 41 has its central portion. engaged around one of the fastening screws I or rivets 6, for the two sections of the pistol operates to urge the haihmer and the trigger to their normal positions.

One end of a rigid wire rod 42 is pivotally connected to the hammer 28 below the pivot 29 thereof, as seen at 43, saidrod having an ofi'set portion 44 th accommodate the dog 26 and the finger 37. This rod extends forwardly into the guide tube 8 and terminates at its forward end in an eye 45 which has loose sliding engagement upon the resilient latch wire 15, said eye being normally engaged upon the curved or bowed portion 17, of said latch wire.

In-the operation of the pistol, as above de scribed, assuming that it has been loaded with one of the projectiles 20 in the manner explained, the user simply grasps the handle 9 engages the trigger 24 with his forefinger and forces the same rearwardly. In the upward movement of the arm 25 as the trigger is rocked upon its pivot 23, the shoulder 27 of the dog 26 coacting with the lug or projection 32 on the hammer, rocks the hammer upon its pivot, moving the forwardly projecting hammer arm upwardly and rearwardly. At the same time, the finger 27 feeds one of the detonating caps on the paper strip into position at the upper end of the web 33 where it will'be engaged by the end of the hammer arm when the latter is released. Now it will be seen that in this movement of the hammer, the rod 42 is forced forwardly and, the eye as on the forward end of said rod finally moves between the rcsilient latch wire 15 in advance of the bowed or curved portion 17, and the division web or all between guide tube 8 and the barrel 7. The forward end of the latch wire 32 on the hammer, thereby releasing the latter. Thus the spring 14 by its expansive action promptly expels the projectile 20 with considerable force and at the same time the spring 41 acts to return the hammer to its normal position and engage the hammer with the detonating-cap whereby the latter isexploded. It is of course understood that the spring 41 also acts to properly return the trigger 24 to its normal position, shown 1n Fig. 1 so that the several elements are again set in their proper relative positions for the subsequent operation of the device.

From the above it will be seen that I have devised a double acting toy pistol of relatively simple construction whereby the'projectile may be discharged at a suitable target and the detonating cap exploded whereby a very realistic simulation of a revolver is produced, affording considerable interest v and amusement to juveniles.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, I have shown several slightly modified forms of the device, and in each case the pistol is of the single acting type and merely discharges the projectile, the cap magazine and the cap feeding mechanism above described being dispensed with. V

In each of these modifications, the single pistol casing or shell is formed at its upper side with a supporting wall or seat 46 against which a single ca is placed by hand Likewise, in each 0 the illustrated alternative forms of my invention, the hammer 28 is provided at its pivoted end and upon its forward edge with a shoulder 48 located below the hammer pivot. The trigger 24 is formed withan upwardly projecting arm 49. In Fig. 5 of'the drawings, the rear end of the rod 42 is pivotally connected to the triggerarm 49, the forward end of said rod being sl-idably engaged upon the latch wire of the project1le,'as described inconnection with the preferred embodi ment ofthe device. In the operation of the pistolshown in Fig. 5, the latter is cocked or set for the discharge of the projectile by pulling the hammer backwardly or rearwardly in the-usual manner, the-spring 41 holding the upper end of the trigger arm 49 in contact 'with the forward edge of. the

hammer until the shoulder 48 engages over 7 the upper end of the trigger arm, when the hammer is released. To discharge the pro-' 1 jectile the operator merely forces the lower end 0 the trigger rearwardly with the finger, to move the rod 42 forwardly and disengage the latch element from the shoulder of the projectile in the manner heretofore explained. In this-movement of the trigger, the arm 49 is of course disengaged from the shoulder 48,-thereby releasing the hammer so that the detonating cap which has been placed upon the seat 46 is exploded simultaneously with the expulsion of the projectile by the coil spring 14. This latter position of the trigger and the latch element is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 60f: the drawings, the rod 42 is connected to the hammer 28 at substantlally the sa1ne point with respect to the hammer pivot as in the first described form of the device. When the hammer 1s in its normal position, the terminal eye on the rod 42 occupies a position on the resilient latch element for the projectile at a point rearwardly of the bend or bow 17 in said latch element so that the angular terminal 18 of the latch element is withdrawn through the slot 19 into the guide tube 8. When the hammer is cocked or set as above explained and the shoulder 48 engaged with the trigger arm 49, the rod 42' is forced forwardly so that the eye on the forward end of the rod is positioned upon the bowed portion 17 of the latch wire thus permitting-the latch wire to return to its normal position and project the angular end 18 thereof through the opening 19 into operative engagement with the projectile whereby the latter is help.

against outward movement in the barre Now, when the trlgger 24 is actuated and the hammer released, the rod 42- is drawn rearwardly to its former position so that the terminal eye of said rod will move between the wall of the pistol shell or casing and the latch wire 15 rearwardly of the bend or how being aimed or pointed in any direction,

but which may be instantly released and expelled upon the actuation of the trigger. The wire .rod or guide extending axially through the barrel and through the bore of the missile, causes the latter to be expelled or rejected with great accuracy when aiming or shooting at a target. The releasing mechanism which I have devised for the projectile, is exceedingly simple, as well as positive and reliable in its action and is not, liable to get out of order. It is also to be noted that by providing such a latch device for the projectile, the pistol must be usedwith a projectile of the peculiar construction which I have provided, and pebbles,

metal slugs or other heavy projectiles which will be liable to cause-considerable serious injury cannot be employed. Any one of the several forms of the device, as above described, provides a toy pistol which can be manufactured and sold at comparatively small cost. It will of course be understood 7 While I have herein shown and de-- 10 scribedthe preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements of my improved toy pistol, it is nevertheless to be understood that the same are susceptible of considerable modification therein, and I thereforereserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly .e'mbodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I desire to claim and secure b Letters Patent is: j 1. In a toy pistol, a barrel, an ejecting spring therein, a movable latch element pro' jecting into the barrel to coact with a projectile inserted in the barrel to hold said pr p 'j ectile against the expelling action of the spring, and trigger controlled means in- .cluding a shiftable member normally engaged upon the latch element intermediate 80 of its ends and adapted to coact .with the pistol barrel when shifted in one direction to move the latch elementout of engage ment with the projectile whereby the latter is released.

85 2. In a toy pistol, a barrel, an ejecting spring arranged therein, a movable latch I element pro ecting at one end into the barrel and adapted to coact with a projectile to i hold the same within the barrel against the soexpelling action of the spring, said latch element having an ofiset portion; and trigger' controlled means including a shiftable stamped from sheet metal, it will be incense member normally engaged upon theofl'set portion of the latch element andadapted to coact with the barrel when moved in one d rection to disengage the latch. element from the projectile and release the latter.

3. In a toy pistol, a barrel, ejecting means arranged within the barrel,-a latch element mounted at one of its ends on the wall of the barrel and normally projecting at its other end into the barrel for engagement with a projectile to hold the same in the barrel against the action of the expelling means, and trigger controlled means including a shiftable rod slidably engaged upon the latch element and coacting with the wall of the barrel when moved inone direction to disengage said latch element from the pro ectile whereby the latter is re leased.-

- 4C. In a toy pistol, a barrel, an ejecting spring arranged therein, a resilient latch element fixed atone of its ends to the wall of the barrel and projecting into the barrel at its otherend for engagement with a projectile to retain the latter within the'barrel against the expelling action of the spring,

saidlatch element being bowed intermedi ate of its ends, and trigger controlled means including a longitudinally movable member.

slidably engaged iron the latch element and movable, upon t e actuation of the trigger, from the bowed portion of said element beyond one end of said bowed portion, said member coacting with the barrel wall to' move the latch element at its 'free end and release the projectile.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.- NAPOLEON BONAPARTE lOTTIllR. 'Witnesses:

E. J. GEARY, PETER YOUNG. 

